As we head into the holiday season, images of snuggling by the fire come to mind. This year, that extra bundling up will go a long way on our energy bills. With winter around the corner, we are monitoring natural gas prices carefully, as they have been steadily increasing as demand increases and supply is lower than average.
According to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gas prices in 2022 are expected to be about 24% higher than in 2019 both at home and at work. While we always strive for energy efficiency, increasing our awareness during this unique time will help us to mitigate the impact of rising costs, as well as harm to our environment. Ways to get involved and take action are below.
At home
- 9 Ways to cut your natural gas heating bill this winter
- ENERGY STAR Guide to Efficient Heating & Cooling
- 12 tips to save energy at home this winter
- If your heating equipment is at the end of its life and you must replace it, check to see if any residential rebates or incentives are available in your area to help reduce the cost and evaluate electric-based heating vs natural gas.
At work
- Each degree that we can reduce indoor temperatures yet maintain comfort will help us save.
- If we can reduce our water consumption, we will reduce our natural gas usage and associated costs. See EPA’s tips for Saving Water in Hospitals.
We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will share any updates as they become available.
More info
Watch our partner, Schneider Electric, discuss some of the market drivers behind the upswing in gas markets on Bloomberg, and later describe how winter weather may impact pricing this year.
Learn more about natural gas impacts globally.
Please contact Dave Thomsen, director, infrastructure and environmental stewardship.